The Beta She Rejected

She held him in his hands as blood dripped from his wounds, several gashes covered his body as he coughed out blood from his mouth. Around both of them a handful of wolves surround them, though not left out in gashes that were slowly healing.

The wounded wolf slowly glanced around the anxious faces looking down on him, he also took one last glance at the face of the woman before him. One last thing was expected of him before he died and he knew what to do, groaning to get their attention; he slowly spoke out.

"With dying strength and bravery, I hereby confer upon the Luna the leadership of the whole Mooncrest pack. Obey all orders from her from now henceforth" The dying Wolf that seems to be an Alpha spoke out.

A way of grunting and murmuring broke out amongst them,...how could he give a mere Luna authority over them all... The thought ran across their minds.

The Luna let out an angry fierce roar as the Alpha breathed his last, the roar echoed around the whole plain covered in bodies showing a bloody war that had just taken the life of their Alpha.

One wolf slowly lifted the body from her hands and hoist it on his shoulders zooming off as the others followed suit excluding the Luna who staggered to get feet with a necklace which had fallen off the deaf wolf, taking a few tentative steps she headed home neither running nor walking; just staggering forward.

The wounded wolves arrived inside the city as they slowly laid the body of the dead wolf on the ground while forming a semicircle around it.

Soon the Luna staggered into the city gates with the necklace still dangling from her hands, all eyes turned towards her direction as no one seemed to recognize her as she was covered in filth and blood.

"Is that not Scarlett, Marcus's mate?" a voice rang out from amongst the crowd as they staggered back in fear. Ever since she Marcus became infected with the evil plague,she had become cold-hearted but puts up a show cos he is still alive. Now he is dead,who knows what they would face.

Scarlett Gray was one of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful female wolves in the Mooncrest pack, standing a full six feet seven inches she stood high and walked with an air of authority around her earning the phrase of jealous ones from her feminine folk. Her face glittered like it was rubbed with oil,as her Ebony Black hair hung over her shoulders, in total she was drop dead gorgeous.

The crowd made way for her as she passed into their midst pausing a bit to glance at the dead body before her as she walked over to the front of everyone.

"I have nothing else to say but this,the rules of Woodcrest have changed. As the new leader of the pack; you all take orders from me or you face the consequences, dismissed" she stated in a matter of fact way as the whole crowd slowly drift away excluding some Beta's,each person walked with a rhetorical question swirling around in his or her brain as they thought about how they will get to live under this been set rules she was was about to lay down for them to follow.

"What happened to him?" A green eyed wolf asked, stepping closer.

"The evil plague weakened him a lot in the battlefield,though we won he lost his life in the process" A wolf who was still healing proffered an explanation when none was forthcoming from the others.

"Why are your wounds healing,it's been quite some time since you all came back here" An elderly blue eyed wolf asked concerned.

"They used a specific kind of silver on us,we are healing rather slowly than expected" The wolf who answered earlier spoke out again.

"Scarlett you need to put yourself together, you are now pack leader so act like one" The elderly wolf added before turning and walking away.

Nodding at the wolves around,the dead body was hoisted again but this time that head in a slow procession to the cremation chamber with Scarlett still at the rear of the procession.

The body was laid out on the stone slab used for cremation as chopped wood was taken out for the store room beside and laid all around it, finally the torch was litted and handed over to Scarlett to lit up the body to began cremation.

There was a momentary period of silence as the blazing torch crackled in Scarlett's hand's as she thought about what to do.

"Should I drop the torch or do I lit it up,either ways he is still gonna get cremated........" this and various other thoughts kept popping on and off her head as beads of tears dripped down her face careful not to fall into the deep dimple on her face.

Taking a look arond she sniffed before lighting up the part before her as she began the process and soon the whole stack if wood was burning furiously crackling like a monsterous forest fire.

The Beta's left one after the other with heads hung on their shoulders till it came to remain only Scarlett who remained standing watching the fire burning the flesh of one she once called mate as more tears came rushing this time freely like the fountain of waters.

Her eyes soon grew weary of crying as she sat on a stone watching the fire slowly dying down as the chamber filled up with acridic smell of burnt flesh,soon the glowing coal was reduced to ashes as she took out a case from inside one of the various crannies of the Chamber. Scoping out enounce handful to fill the vase halfway she covered the vased and walked out into the sunlight with one thought gradually registering itself into her mind, the Mooncrest pack shall now see the true meaning of leadership that they had never seen before.

The sun rose up early that morning maybe to commemorate the death of the former Alpha and usher in a new era cold-hearted rulership the Mooncrest pack had ever witnessed in their entire lives.

A good looking Beta sat a few meters away awaiting for the opening of the gates so he could go into Scarlett's chamber's. Soon the stockade gates were thrown open as the Beta rose to his feet and walked in not minding the guards or anyone in his way,he had one aim and that was to deliver a message to the Luna Scarlett.

Arriving at the passageway to her chamber's,a guard accosted him and inquired of his aim; giving an explanation that he had words for the Luna herself,the guard escorted him to Scarlett's doorway and knocked twice signaling her of her immediate attention.

It didn't take long for Scarlett to emerge as the beta handed over a scroll to her, bowing in respect and saying it was from the council of elders. With that said he turned on his heels and walked out of the courtyard into the streets of the town.

Scarlett took a long look at the scroll in her hands as she slammed the door shut retreating into the safety of her room to take a look at the letter.

The letter was sealed with the seal of unity used for only important decisions mainly amongst the Beta's and Alpha's, breaking the seal was easy as she snapped it into two before unrolling the scroll.

*The night of the Blue Moon comes up in two days time; it is required that you take or you choose a new mate to rule beside you, failure to do so,you shall face several eligible Beta's to a fight to the death at the council*

Scarlett gasped in shock as she dropped the letter stumbling back with a shock expression on her face,she sat on the bed as her breathing became labored and drawn in between gasps.

"All the sympathies and tender heart felt feelings of pain were all hypocritic,no wonder they all left; no one stayed to comfort me" Scarlett thought as she stared into space for a few minutes before ringing the bell for her personal guard.

"Prepare the guards,we leave for the council meeting in five minutes" She ordered as the guard left while she walked towards her wardrobe to change into something better.

The next few minutes saw Scarlett heading for the meeting with her personal seven man guards who would always be ready to protect her.

Arriving at the valley across which they shall pass to get to the meeting, a good number of young Wolves were already furrowing the land each with his own pair of oxen yoked together.

"Here comes the great leader of our land'' One of them yelled out as soon as Scarlett came into sight as everyone stood at attention as they waited for her to pass.

Halfway across the field a well known bully began to taunt and jeer at a young beta who was known for his meekness and humility, the taunting continued even as the wolf Nicholas got to work but it was futile as trouble loomed ahead.

The bully a young boy about Scarletts age who failed at the arena and to console himself took to bullying young wolves walked into the field leading his oxens behind him and chewing on an apple, ignoring the greetings from the other wolves and heads towards Nicholas nudging him hardly with sides of his oxen yoke. Nicholas's hand involuntarily rubbed the affected area as it was smarting furiously.

"Why would you do that?" he asked politely.

"Are you referring to me?" The Bully asked, still chewing on the apple in his hands.

"Hell yes,I am referring to you,you hit me and you didn't care to offer an apology for that" Nicholas yelled out at him.

"You hear that guys,the weakling wants an apology" The bully spoke aloud to the others hearing as everyone burst into laughter in fear of being beaten if they didn't laugh at his joke.

Nicholas burned with rage as his wolf form tried unleashing involuntary but he suppressed it due to his meek nature.

"I demand an apology now," Nicholas said with a serious tone.

"You want an apology huh, here you have it" The bully threw the half eaten apple at Nicholas but that was the greatest mistake he made who felt he had had enough. Faster than the eye could see, Nicholas swooshed forward to deliver a powerful punch to his chest sending him crashing meters away.

"That's what I call an apology not accepted," Nicholas said, wiping his hands on his shorts. The bully staggered to his feet angrily as he roared out loudly, soon the sound of bone breaking and reshaping filled the area as he transformed into his wolf form roaring loudly into the sky again.

Eyes moved from the bully to Nicholas who remained unfazed by the transformation but rather took hold of his plow goading the oxens forward.

The Bully took him by surprise as he sped forward snarling and leaped at Nicholas who didn't see him coming throwing a deadly punch at the ribs as Nicholas yelled out in pain as he crashed against the plough,The yell caught the attention of Scarlett who turned just in time to see the bully slash Nicholas furiously across the chest ripping it open. Growling deceitfully he made to rip out his heart when a hand grabbed his hand throwing him metres away as a loud growling was heard.

The Bully crashed into the brushes and howled loudly as the thorn bushes caught him in several places drawing blood. Scrambling to its feet the bully rushed forward again aiming for the intruder's head but this time the later countered with a punch to the ribs sending the winds out of him as it crashed down groaning on the floor.

The whole field broke out in chaos as everyone stepped away from the intruder as tey saw the glowing red eyes standing before them. The bully snarled as he questioned the intruder, while taking a look at Nicholas who was still groaning in pain.

"Scarlett, why interfere in the affairs of the lowlifes?What business do you have with this loser?" The bully asked with a sneer.

"Glenn why won't you rest?, remember who stands before you" Scarlett said as she reminded him she now had authority over the pack.

"I don't care,that your husband gave you control over the pack means you will control me,nah never" Glenn said on a serious note.

The realization dawned on Scarlett as she knew that sooner or later she would have to fight a continuous fight to protect her rights or the pack might overthrow her. It's either she takes a mate or the leader of the Mooncrest pack rests on a strand of rope. Either she takes a mate or she loses. Something clicked in her mind, she had to retain her rights even if it meant fighting for the rest of her life.

"I challenged you to Council Arena, remember a fight to the death" Glenn challenged growling loudly.

The onlooker and Scarlett's guards watched with curiosity as they awaited her reply to the challenge.

"To the death" she repeated and paused,then she added "So be it".

The whole crowd of onlookers rose with murmuring as Scarlett turned to Nicholas, who lay still as she grabbed him on one arm while her personal guard took hold of the other arm as they pulled him out.

A sudden tremor swept through Scarlett as Nicholas's body came into contact with hers,as her body reacted differently. She felt her strong-will drained,her ice wall shattered by this random wolf before her. Likewise Nicholas, the moment their body touched his body rocked a sudden shock wave that almost sent him to his knees as they separated immediately; each looking at each other in the eyes.

Each saw love in each other's eyes but none is willing to say cos it was rather too soon to say anything. Scarlett broke up the stare as she sped off followed by her guards while Nicholas stood drooling at her.

Scarlett and her guards arrive at the council meeting some seconds late, the council elders glared angrily at her; some in disdain while some with smirking clearly plastered on their faces.

"With all due respect as Luna and leader of the pack, you should be here since and not keeping us waiting" The high Beta presiding over the meeting spoke out immediately Luna walked towards the throne set on a podium two feet high above that of the presiding Beta.

"Between the Alpha and the pack who waits for each other" Scarlett retorts as she walks to her seat.

"And you think you have authority over us, that you can talk to us anyhow you want" The high Beta asked.

"I fear no man,not even the bravest of braves for I am Raksha the Demon that swoops down in her foes like a stalking tiger ready for a spring" she said angrily.

"Do not speak of the council of elders that way" An elder wolf spoke out.

"Then teach them never to mess with the wrong person" she said and took her seat on the throne.

"Let the meeting begin".

"Greetings great elders of the council, today is a day to decide on our future. As we all know the blue moon come out in two days time and our pack has no Alpha yet. So we ask of the Luna why she had not chosen a mate from amongst us" The presiding Beta began.

"Scarlett may you tell us your reasons for your action" Another elder Wolf asked.

"And when did you all began interfering in my affairs, my mate died just two days now and you are asking for a new Alpha" Scarlett began.

"Well to clear your doubts, I am not in need of any mate for now. I am going to lead this pack even if it means fighting for the rest of my life; even with the last drop of blood in me,I will keep fighting".

"Do you know what you are saying Scarlett, you can't stand all the Beta's in a fight. Why don't you choose one and live in the position you prized so much,we all love you you know" another wolf chipped in.

"Do you think they call me Raksha the Demon for nothing huh, nah. Let them come and have a taste of my fangs" Scarlett maintained.

"Well if you all truly love me then you won't tell me all these things,my late mate is my only source of happiness. I have said my mind, I choose no one and I fight for my right".

"If you wish to fight,then so be it.but remember if you fail you lose the position of Luna, do you accept the rules" The presiding Beta asked.

"We give you till the blue moon to reconsider your choices".

"I accept" Scarlett said with an air of finality as she stood to her feet and head towards the door, halfway a voice stopped her.

"Won't you consider thinking about your choice".

"I stand on my word,no compromising" She said and walked out of the meeting room.

...............................

The next few days were days of gloominess and thoughts in the life of Nicholas as he pondering over the strange way he felt when his body touched that of Scarlett, he sat alone daydreaming and thinking about her and as days goes by he felt himself drawing nearer and nearer towards her until he can't hide the fact that he had fallen totally fallen in love with her. But one rhectorical question hung on his mind "would she accept me as her mate or would she reject me".

All this thoughts and more kept rolling around in his head as he thought of how best to approach her even if for a few minutes talk, but then one mind spoke to him.

"So you think you can get to be with Scarlett, your Alpha's Luna for that matter. Do you think you think it would be possible" His mind spoke out to him.

"I can do it, I can be with her if I am determined" Nicholas replied to his himself.

"Hahaha do you think you can stand up to her,you think you can defeat her. When have you heard that Raksha the Demon has ever lost a fight,even during her infant year's" His mind said again mocking him

"I can do it, I once defeated the strongest wolf during the time of my teens. Why won't I get her,I will and I shall" Nicholas maintained.

"The jaguar that got beaten today, let see what happens when you get rejected by her. Don't you see she had become cold-hearted,she won't see love in you; before, now nor ever" His mind countered him.

"I bet she will".

"Wait, what am I even doing. Talking to myself" Nicholas said as he shook himself out of his reverie.

Standing up he glanced around before turning towards the sun.

"I swear upon you and upon the moon,if I have Scarlett as my mate i shall offer a great offering to you all" He prayed.

"And your prayers shall be answered" His grandmother said walking in with the air of her walking stick.

"Hey Grandma, good day. How was your night" Nicholas asked while holding her in an embrace.

"Am hale and healthy, and how was yours".

"My was fine except for a minor incident that happened earlier today at the fields" Nicholas said answering her question.

"I heard Scarlett has a duel with Glenn in two days time. Is it true" his grandma asked again.

"Yes ma,it was because of me that she took the deal" Nicholas said facing the ground.

"What do you mean because of you".

"Glenn attacked me from behind and she came to the rescue cos she was passing by, he challenged her to a duel to the death and she accepted. Ma anytime soon the pack might rebel against her" Nicholas explained while putting in his opinion about the future.

"It all lies in the hands of Scarlett to decide, you also have to do your best to ensure she retains her title or the pack shall suffer" His grandma said in a calm voice.

"I will ma, I promise" Nicholas replied looking into the distance.